LA Galaxy new boy Andy Boyens is looking to become a regular for the club this season.
The 28-year old New Zealand international joined the reigning MLS champions from Chivas USA during the winter and is immediately eyeing the vacant center-back position following the serious knee injury suffered by Omar Gonzalez on his first day of an off-season training stint with FC Nuremberg.
"These guys have a great center back pairing in Omar and A.J. [DeLaGarza] and, regardless of what happened to Omar, I was hoping to be pushing for starting minutes.
"And regardless of what happens to anyone on the team that doesn't change for me. I see it as a really good opportunity.
"I'd like to think that I worked hard enough in the off-season to be able to get straight back into it, but you always have to push yourself there," he added. "Once that happens you start meeting the guys on the team, getting used to the coaching staff and the system the team plays, and hopefully start establishing yourself as someone who can play early on.""As soon as I signed here, I saw it as an opportunity," said Boyens, who was picked up in the 2012 MLS Re-Entry Draft.